Childcare Checklist
Use this checklist to help you think about what’s
important to communicate to a caregiver.

As in Peter Pan, we should all have
Nana the nanny dog at our disposal for
our precious darlings! Leaving your wee
ones with a caregiver—especially one
that’s new to your family—is rarely easy.
Having a checklist of points to cover
and an information sheet for your child’s
caregiver can help put your mind at ease
and ensure everything will run smoothly
while you are away.

Provide the caregiver with an up-to-date information sheet
(see left).
Decide if and when you’d like the caregiver to check in
with you.
❑ If you don’t want your phone answered by the caregiver,
decide how you will get in contact with them in case of
emergency or to notify the caregiver if you will be late.
❑ Leave a house key for the caregiver. Give instructions for
what to do in case of a lock-out. Walk through alarm systems.
❑ Show the caregiver where the heat and/or air-conditioning
controls are, and how to make adjustments if necessary.
❑ Discuss ahead of time if anyone will be dropping by the
Information Sheet
house for any reason. Give details about who is coming
and when they’re expected.
The information sheet should act as a quick reference guide for
❑ If you have pets, talk to the caregiver about what you
the caregiver with frequently used and emergency phone numexpect from them regarding care (walks, feedings, pooperbers and any special instructions regarding the children’s care.
scooper patrol, etc.).
Even if you’ve reviewed most of these things with the caregiver
❑
Let the caregiver know if there are any chores, homework,
prior to your departure, it’s a good idea to have it in writing so
instrument practice hours, or anything else to be completthey can refer back to it.
ed by your child in your absence.
❑ Discuss your child’s schedule with the caregiver, and give
General Parent’s Names, Our Phone Number, Our
any instructions regarding food preparation, bottle feedAddress, Closest Intersection, Children’s
ings, bedtime routine, etc.
Names and Ages
❑ Give the caregiver all necessary information relating to fire
escape plans including location of extinguishers and fire
Where You’ll Be Address, Phone number, Cell phone, Pager,
Pesticide residues are rarely
found
exits,
and where to meet once everyone is out of the house.
Time expected home
in these fruits and vegetables:
❑ Lay out the house rules for the caregiver both in reference
Asparagus Avocados Broccoli Cabbage
to what your children are allowed/not allowed to do
Special Instructions Mealtime, Snacks, Allergies, Bedtime/
Sweet corn Eggplant Kiwi Mangos
(such as ride bikes with helmets only, limit television to
Naps, Pet care, Medications (what and
Onions Papaya Pineapples Sweet peas
one hour, etc.) and what is expected of the caregiver (such
when), Fire plan meeting place
Sweet potatoes Tomatoes Watermelon
as no telephone use, no friends over, etc.).
❑ Be very straightforward about your rules concerning disciPlaces to Call in Emergency: 911, Relative, Neighbor, Hosplining your children. This will help to provide consistency
Case of Emergency pital, Police, Fire, Poison Control, PediatriDon’t
bother
buying seafood organic as there
is no child and avoid major misunderstandings.
for your
cian, Family doctor, Dentist,
Other
doctors
Commercially grown produce is sprayed with legal amounts of
organic certification standards for❑seafood.
Let the caregiver know if you’d like them to take notes on
toxic pesticides, which interfere with the way the body processes
The
label
means
nothing.
your baby’s eating and sleeping schedule, feedback about
Other
nutrients. Another concern is the use of antibiotics.
From Day
60 to care and school, Carpool,
your toddler’s behavior, etc.
Grandparents
Numbers
80 percent of all cattle, sheep, andImportant
poultry in the
United States

.

.

❑
❑

.

buying organic

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will receive antibiotics at some point. Organic food is grown
without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, hormones,
or antibiotics, and reduces the risk of getting cancer and other
diseases. It pays to buy organic food products to reduce your
exposure. Other times though, it may not be worth the expense.
Know your organics!

20 books for
babies and toddlers
Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Eloise by Kay Thompson
Five Little Monkeys by Eileen Christelow
Jumping on the Bed
George and Martha by James Marshall
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion & Margaret Bloy Graham
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff & Felicia Bond
JoJo’s Flying Sidekick by Brian Pinkney

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

The essential
book for every
organized and
efficient mom!

The Mitten by Jan Brett
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, illustrated
by Robert Lawson
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

20 books for early
grade readers
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
Arthur by Marc Brown
Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
Curious George by H. A. Rey
Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Good Night, Good Knight by Shelley Moore Thomas
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
Little Bear by Elsa Holmelund Minarik
& Maurice Sendak
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
The Magic School Bus by Joanna Cole
Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
Miss Nelson Is Missing by Harry G. Allard
& James Marshall
Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
The Story of Jumping Mouse by John Steptoe
Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
Tikki Tikki Tembo retold by Arlene Mosel,
illustrated by Blair Lent
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Yoko by Rosemary Wells

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w e l c o m e b o o k s

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c o m

/

m o m s b o o k o f l i s t s

Finally, there are the best-of-everything lists—the tried and true books,
movies, music, toys, games, software, and websites—for every age group.
All the research is done and at a mom’s fingertips so she doesn’t forget
Lincoln Logs or Scrabble, and learns about Kid Pix and Math Millie
educational software.
Beautifully designed and illustrated with vintage children’s illustrations
from beloved artists such as Jessie Willcox Smith and Kate Greenaway,
Mom’s Book of Lists is a charming and practical gift for every new mom.
It is an essential guide that is certain to become the most well-thumbed
book in every family’s home!
A perfec tly
char m ing and
prac tical gift
for
new mot hers !

MoM’s
Book of Lists
100 Practical Lists for Raising Your Kids

for
ages
0 to 14

* clothes and shoes sizing * age accomplishments *

Mom’s Book of Lists: 100
practical Lists For Raising Your Kids
By Alice Wong
Over 100 full color illustrations
160 pages, 5 x 8
Hardcover, $17.95 ($20.50 CAN)
ISBN 978-1-59962-097-8
On Sale: March 2011
Family / childcare
Alice Wong co-created, with Lena Tabori, the
best-selling Little Big Book series, which has
sold over 1.7 million copies. She co-edited many
of the titles in this charming and popular series,
including The Little Big Book for Moms and
The Little Big Book for Grandmothers (Welcome
Books). She is author of The Big Book of Me: My
Baby Book, and co-edited The Goodnight Book for
Moms and Little Ones. Alice currently resides in
Brooklyn with her husband Clark and their three
children, Chi Chi, 14, Sylvia 12, and Phoebe, 8.

sts
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highlights to
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list
the age ranges
s.
in mind that
ge: 15–24 mo

rom the creators of the best-selling The Little Big Book for Moms
comes another must-have for mothers: Mom’s Book of Lists: 100
Practical Lists for Raising Your Kids. With 100 useful lists and
checklists, this valuable resource will be the go-to book for every
organized and efficient mom. The book will quickly answer the numerous
questions in every mom’s daily life—from the basic concerns of “is my
baby sleeping enough?” to the specifics of “which foods are worth buying
organic?” The book also contains numerous checklists to satisfy every
family’s needs—from supplies for the medicine cabinet to a rainy-day
activity box.

Mom's Book of Lists

From the creators of the best-selling The Little Big Book for Moms comes another must-have for mothers: Mom’s Book of Lists: 100 Practical Lists for Raising Your Kids. With 100 useful lists and checklists, this valuable resource will be the go-to book for every organized and efficient mom. The book will quickly answer the numerous questions in every mom’s daily life—from the basic concerns of “is my baby sleeping enough?” to the specifics of “which foods are worth buying organic?” The book also contains numerous checklists to satisfy every family’s needs—from supplies for the medicine cabinet to a rainy-day activity box.